Hermetic closure for tumblers.



'PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906 W. A. LORENZ.

HEEMETIG CLOSURE FOR TUMBLERS.

APPLICATION FILED D20 18 1905 2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.-

-Iwvemtor 5mm filmrenz/ Unrrnn STATES PATENT FFTC E.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ, or nanrronn, oouuno'rlour.

HERM ETIC CLOSURE FOR TUMBLERS.

No. seaeso.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4;, I906.

. Application filed December 18,1905. Serial Ne. 292,220.

To ctZZ whom it may concern; 7

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. LORENZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and .State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hermetic Closures for Tumblers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improved means for hermetically closing the tops of tumblers,

mugs, andsimilar plain-rimmed receptacles,

and is especially adapted for the sealing of such receptacles by well-known vacuum processes.

Figure l of the drawings is a sectional view, in enlarged scale, of the upper left-hand portion of a tumbler, showing my-improved closure in its uncompressed or unsealed condition. Fig. 2 isa view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the closure in its sealed condition. The section shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3'is a side view, in approximately full-size scale, showing the sealed tumbler, the left-han'd upper portion being broken away to show the closure-joint in section. Fig. 4 is afragnientary side view in section similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of cap Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view in section, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing, in enlarged scale, the form of the cap-flange. Fig.

5 is an underneath view of the fluted rim of the caps shown in Figs. 1, .2, 3, and 5. Fig.

5 is a similar underneath view in-section, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 5. -Figs 6', 7,

8, and 9 are fragmentary side views, in enlargedscale, showin in sec-tiona modified form of my improve closure. Fig. 6 represents the closure as itis initially placedin position prior to the sealing operation. Fig. 7 shows the closure of Fig. 6 in its sealed condition. sures as applied to a tum ler having an ir re ular rim, Fig. 9 being shown in section ta en on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, the latter showing the closure in its unsealed condition, while Fig. 9 shows the closure in its sealed condition.

showing some of the different irregularities of contour to which they are liable in commercial manufacture.

The commercial sealing of tumblers and similar round-rimmed receptacles presents difficulties beyond those encountered in the sealing of ordinary jars, which are provided 'insurin Figs. 8 and 9 represent these 010- Figs' 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views, in enlarged scale, of tumblers,

With an annular shoulder for supportin lov eling, and otherwise positioning the gas et inproper relation to the sealing-joint. Theprincipal of these difliculties in connection e sealing of tumblers has been to propwith t erlyseat, centralize, and distributethe gasket upon the tumbler-rim so as to inake a commercially-reliable seal. The difficulty is increased by thefact that in' the commercial manufacture of tumblers their rims are liable v to be more or less uneven bothin the contourof the round at different portions of the rim and also in the distortion-of the tumbler-rim from a true circle.

ive seal upon commercially-manufactured tumblers. This'is accomplished in the present invention by means of a closure whichprovides for and directs the distribution of the gasket material upon the tumbler-rim, a suitable thickness orcushion of the gas et material at places where it will fill or compensate for the inequalities referred to, while also providing two or more circles .or zones of sealing contact between the tum- 16 The object of the present invention is to provide a. closure'that will adapt itselftol these various inequalities and make an effect-- bler-rim and'the cap. The contour of the cap is so related to the contour of the rim that when the cap is pressed downin the sealing operation an annular space of appreciable Width is opened between the inside of the compressed by the sealing operation. This annular space allows for considerable variation of the rim from a true circle, since'it. en-

ables the flexible gasket to flow more or less from one point to the other around the circumcap-flange and the outer side of the tumblerrim, into which annular space the gasket is ference of the rim and also furnishes a sufiiable variation due to the aforesaid depressions or irregularities inthe tumbler-rim; In connection with this cap I employ a gasket having a downwardly and outwardly inclined lower edge which rests upon the receptaclerro rim with it's acute-angled lower corner proecting 1n the aforesaid annular space. I

- prefer to use a gasket or rhomboidal crosszones of the tumbler-rim is that if the sealing contact should be imperfect or non-continuous along one of those zones, the chances are good of having at least another line of seal perfect and continuous. This result is due to the fact that the top'surface of the cap is depressed to form an annular shoulder and corner over the tumbler-rim, the shoulder serving'to resist thetendency of themain avoid sharp cutting corners.

body of the gasket when under pressure to escape in an inward direction over the recep- 'tacle-rim, while the annular corner catches and-pinches a comparatively thin inner portion of the gasket, which as a result of the pressure protrudes inwardly between that corner and the tumbler-rim. This annular corner of the cap-thus cooperates with the tumblenrim to confine the gasket, and thereby insurea greater general compression of the gasket upon the outer zones of the tumbler-rim, and also serves to seal its own special zone of the tumbler-rim.

The tumbler 10 is or may 'be of the ordinary w ell-known form'having a-rounded rim 11-, the rims of such receptacles being generally rounded both" for appearance and to ed rims are liable to. imperfections due to their methods of manufacture from wear or mismatching of the mold and mold-rings by which these tumblers are formed, which im perfections are often not removed by the subsequent fire-finishing operation. More over, the fire-finishing operation sometimes adds further inequalities due to the unequal application of the heat to different portions of the rim, thereby melting down some por I tions more than others, as illustrated M12 in Figs. Sand 9, and alsofmaking the rounded contour of the same portion of the rim unsymmetrical, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

The cap 15 is provided with a gasket-receiving portion 16, Which is of a diameter substantially larger than the outside of the tumbier-rim 11, this larger portion extending a substantial distance above the level of that rim, even whenthe closure is in its sealed condition,'as shownin Figs. 2 and 4. Portions of the cap-flange are turned inwardly beneath the gasket-seat, so as to engage with the tum- These round- I bler below the rim and centralize the closure therewith. These turned-in ortions may be at intervals in the form of t e flutes -17, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or this turned-in portion may be circular and continuous, as

illustrated at 18 in Fig. 4. The enlarged por- I tion 16 provides the annular space 20 outside of the circle of the tumbler rim. The capflange being flexible will conform to a .considerable degree to the ovalor other shape to which the tumbler-rims maybe distorted from a true circle. Therefore the annular space 20 willrem ain substantially uniform in width around the circumference of the rim, so that the gasket, if properly and evenly ontered in the space prior to the sealing operation, will be compressed therein with a fair degree of uniformity all around the circle of its portion of the joint.

The gasket 22 is of rhombic form in crosssection, this'formbeing considered by me most advantageous for the present purpose. .This gasket is shown in ,lt slnltlal or uncompressed condition in Fig.1 1 The cylindrical inner and outer sides 23 and 24 are substantially vertical, the outer sidebeing larger in diameter than the tumbler-rim and approximately fitting the gasket seat 16, preferably with sufiicient tightness'to enable it to keep its placein the cap during the handling of theclosure prior to and while placing it upon the tumbler. The downwardly and outwardly inclined lower surface 25 of the gasket rests upon the tumbler-rim 11 withthe acuteangled lower outercorner 26 projecting into the-annular space 20 on the outside of the tumbler-rim, thus insuring the certain and substantially'uniform entry of the gasket between the coacting sealing-surfaces on the outer side of the tumbler-rim and on the in-- nor side-of the cap-flange In the employment of the commoner forms of gasket having circular or other compact cross-sections in connection with a wedging type of closure it is necessaryto deform the gasket to a considerable extent from its original form in order to project a suificient amount of it across the sealing-seat, this deforming operation taking place in connection with the sealing operation itself and being therefore beyond the control andobservae tion of the operator; but in employing the closure herein shown the angular-corner-26 projects into the space 20 when the closureis initially placed upon the tumbler prior to the sealing operation, thus permitting the proper initial placing and disposition of the gasket relative to the sealingsurfaces, which is a.

most important consideration in all hermetic sealing. In the preferred form of this closure (shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive) the complete 'rhombic form of gasket is employed, having the inclined upper edge 27 the cap bei ing made with a corresponding inclined or conical-portion 28 which when the closure is package.

in its sealed position (shown in F ig's. .2 and 4) compresses the gasket at an angle at substantially the line 31. The cap is also provided with an annular corner 85, which inthe case of a sheet-metal cap is preferably rounded.

being pushed inwardly over thetumbler-rim,

thereby tending during the sealing operation to confine the main portion of thegasket to the upper and outer sides of the tumbler rim. The corner 35 is located over the tumblerrim, referably on the inner side thereof, and coop rates, with the tumbler-rim to establish an additional or supplemental zone of sealing contact at approximately the line 32 whenever the closure sinks down far enough either from variations in the gasket-space or in the pressure. Thus in the closures shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, three zones of sealing contact are provided for, (indicated, respectively, by the lines 30, 31, and 32,) thej gask'et material being so directed and confined as to be compressed at these three zones much more than elsewhere.

I/Vhen the lower portion of the cap-flange is turned inwardly at intervals in the form of vertical flutes, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the lower portions 39 of the space between the inwardly-turned flutes are preferably rounded inwardly at the bottom, as shown in section in Fig. 5, in order to have this portion of the cap smooth, both for appearances and to avoid injury to the persons handling the This feature of the carp is more fully illustrated in Figs. 5 and 5 The upper portions 21 of the flute 17 serve as shoulders for supporting the gasket to prevent it from falling out of the cap while being handled prior to placing the closures upon the other receptacles. Thus this portion of the rim-of the cap isof a serrated contour, and in order to avoid extending these serrations to the lower edge of the cap-rim Ipreferably merge the surfaces again into a circular contour at or toward the lower edge 13 of the cap, that edge being therefore circular in form, as best shown in Fig. 5. These caps are commonly made from sheet. metal by means of drawing dies which sometimes leave sharp edges or burs or teeth upon'the lower edges of the cap-r1m s, especially where the fluted serrations are extended to .the lower edges.

W'here this cap is to be. used upon a tumbler or similar receptacle which has no shoulder in its side wall to underlie the cap-rim, and thus protect the fingers of the user against any injury from its possible sharp or jagged edge, I prefer to make the circular edge 13 of the cap-rim fit quite closely against the wall of the receptacle, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus makin it. of a diameter smaller than the diameter 0 the gasket-seat. the portions 39 of the turned-in intervals be- In that case tween the flutes serve to guard the users fingers from any injury from sharp edges; but the position'and' diameter of the circular edge 13 of the cap relative'to the gasket-seat 16 are matters which should be determined by circumstances, including the characteristics of the receptacle itself, it being obvious that the serrated portions may be merged at or toward the edge of the cap into a circle of any desired size relative to the diameter of the gasket-seat.

In the closure shown in Fig. 4 the annular A corner 40 is more acute, due to the fact that the middle portion 41 ofthe cap 42 is turned upwardly inside of the corner 40, that corner being, ineffect, an annular bead projecting downwardly from the upper, wall of the cap.

' This form of corner narrows the line of pinch,

and hence with the same amount, of pressure makes a more sharply defined circle of contact. j

In the form of closure shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, the gasket 43 differs from that of thepreceding gures in the respect that the upper surface 44 is approximately flat in stead of being inclined and the corresponding portion 49 of the cap'.48is rounded-above the gasket; but aside from this difference in detail theconstruction and mode of opera' tion are substantially the same as that of the closure of the preceding figures, excepting that this form of closure establishes. two

zones of contact 45 and 46, as showniri Fig. 7, instead of three zones, as shown in Fig. 2.

- Figs. 8 and 9 represent theaction of the closure when employed upon tumblers hav. ing irregular rims. As shown in Fig. 9, the gasket 43 when compressed sinks into the depression 12 on account of the cushion of the gasket material which lies above and around it. Moreover, the annular space at the point 47 is not appreciably affected by the depressions in the top of the rim. T herefore the joint at 47, corresponding with the zones 30 and 45 of Figs. 2 and 7, respectively, will be practically as ood as though the adjacent top portion 0 the rim were of full height.

In the case ofirregularities in the rounded i contour of the rim like those shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the depressions at oneside do not ordinarily affect the adjacent portions of the rim, so that an efiective seal is made at one or the other of the sealing-zones 45 and 46.-

In the case of the'clo'sure shown in Fi s. 1 and 2 the additional zone 31 still further essens the chances of leakage or failure due to the imperfections referred to. The increased cushioning effect obtained by this closure does not necessarily involve the use of an increased amount of gaskets material, but is mainly effected by the proper initial disposition and distribution of the gasket material, in connection. with the use of a flexible cap having a suitable contour for confining anddirecting the flow of the gasket material during compression, all of which results in distributing the gasket material between two or more narrow sealing-zones, utilizing the space or spaces between those zones as reservoir-space from which the gasket material flows to the respective-sealing-zones as the need therefor is developed during thelsealing operation and in accordance with-the"requirement of each individual tumbler, instead of wasting the material by allowing a considerable volume of it'to protrude use lessly at one or both sides of the closure-j oint.

These improved closures may be manufactured and used and sold quite independently of the tumblers which they are intended to seal, the gasket being seated within the cap securely enough to preventdisplacement during any handling to which it may be sub jected. These closures may be sealed in any of several-Well-known ways. I prefer, how ever, to seal them by the process described and claimed in United. States Patent No. It is obvious, however, that the closures may be sealed in I 1n anyways, either by hot or cold processing.

During the sealing operation the closure is.

moved downwardly from its initial position (shown in Fig. '1) toward'its sealed positioh, (shown in Fig. 2,) the annular space 20 beneath the gasket and on the outer side of the tumbier-rim being extended downwardly. The

pressure of the cap upon the top portion of the gasket being downward and the lower, side of the outer edge of the gasket being left without support over, the annular s ace 20, the lower edge of the gasket is naturall and inevitably forced into that space, the own-' ward and outward inclination of the lower side of the gasket and of its coacting rounded edge of the tumbler-rim tending also'to favor this direction of flow of the gasket. The contraction of the annular gasketspace above the rim being muchgreaterthan the extension of the space 20 below the rim, the result is a sort of differential action by which the lower edge of the gasket is compressed into the mouth of the. annular space 20, thereby first establishing a definite zone of pressure approximately at the line 30. until the compression of the zone 30 becomes sufficient in itself to sustain the pressure upon the cap the continued downward movement of the cap still further compresses the gasketspace, so that a fin of the gasket is protruded inwardl over the tumbler-rim, beneath the rounds corner 35, which. if the downward movement continues far enough coactswith the inner rounded portion-of the rini to es- ,tablish asealing-zone approximately at the- I claim as my invention.

Unless and line 32, while the conical portion 28 of the cap establishes another zone of seal approximately at the, line 31. In this way precedence is given to the zone 30, the balance of the gasket material after attending to that zone being distributed to and compressed upon the other zones 31 and 32.

1. The combination with a tumbler or similar receptacle having a rounded rim, of a hermetic closure therefor, consisting of a cap, provided with a flexible flange having an annular portion substantially larger in diameter than the receptacle-rim, and extending a substantial distance above thelevel of the rim, an annular gasket seated in said larger.

portion and having its lower edge disposed at an acute angle extending downwardly into the annular space between the receptacle' rimand the cap-flange, the cap being provided withan annular shoulder projecting downwardly on the inner side ofthe top of the gasket to support the top of the gasket against inward movement during the sealing operation, terminating in a corner which overlies and coacts with the rounded rim to engage the portion of the gasket which pro trudes inwardly between them.

2. The combination with a tumbler or similar receptacle having a rounded rim,'of a hermetic closure therefor, consisting of a cap provided with a flexible flange having an annular portion substantially larger in diameter I than the receptacle-rim and extending a substantial distance above the level of that rim, an annular gasket seated in said larger portion with the greater portion of its bulk disposed outside of the circle formed .by the top walLof the cap being depressed Within the circle of the gasket, to form an annular shoulder, the lower corner of which overlies the inner rounded portion of the receptaclecrown of the tumbler-rim, a portion of the j rim, whereby that portion of the gasket which protrudes inwardly over the tumbIer rim is held "between said shoulder and the said rounded portion of the rece tacle-rim.

3. The combination wit a tumbler. or

similarreceptaclehaving-a rounded rim, of a i hermetic closure therefor, consisting of a cap provided with a flexible flange havin an anv nular portion substantially larger t an the receptacle-rim, and extendin from below'the level of the rim a substantia distance above that level, and an annular gasket seated in' said larger portion and'having its outer and lower edge disposed at an acute angle extend- ,ing downwardly into the annular'space bei tween the receptacle-rim and cap-fian(ge, y

whereby said asket is forced downwar during the sealing operation into the said annular'sp'ace, the cap being also provided with a downwardly-projecting annular corner receptacle-rim, whereby the portion of the overlying the inner rounded portion of the nular' ortion larger in diameter than the res ceptac e-rim, and extending a substantial. distance above the level .gf the rim, and angasket which protrudes inwardly over the receptacle-rim is compressed between'the Sald rim and the said corner.

4. The combination with a tumbler or similar receptacle having a rounded rim, of a hermetic closure therefor, consisting ofa cap provided with a flexible flange having an anannular gasket seated saidenlar ed por-I tion with its lower and outer edge isposed at an acute angle exten into the annular s ace between the receptac e-rim and the capange, whereby it is forced downwardly and pinched between the rim and the flange by the sealing operation, the cap being provided with a contracted portion extending inwardly beneaththe edge-of the gasket into substantial contact with the receptacle, to center the closure thereon, and the cap being also provided'with an annular shoulder prov jecting downwardly thetop of the" gasket and'formin an annular corner coacteter than the receptacle-rim, and extending a I tween them.

inglwith the roun ed edge of the-receptacle toengage an inner zone of the gasket be- 5, The combination with a tumbler or similar receptacle having a rounded rim, of a hermetic closuretherefor, consisting of a cap provided with a flexible fla e having an enarged portion substantially r er'in diameter than the receptacle-rim, an extending a substantialgdistance above the level of the rim at all positions of the closure, an annular gasket seated in said enlarged portion, with its lower edge inclineddownwardly and out wardly across the outer rounded portionof the receptacle-rim,- and with its a per edge inclined u wardly and inwardly, t e cap bein provi ed with an annular beveled portion substantial distance above the level v of the rim in all positions of the,closure, an annular gasket seated in said enlarged portion, with its lower edge inclined downwardly and outwardly across the outer rounded portion of the receptacle-rim, and with its upper edge inclined upwardly and inwardly, the cap-beprovided with an annular beveled portion su stantially conforming with the inclined edge of the gasket for wedginglthe said erecept; me ed portion downwardly upon t tacle-rim, and having also an annular shoulder projecting downwardly within the circle of" the gasket and forming an annular corner portion downwardly upon the re 3 coacting with the inner portion of the rounded rim to pinch an inner zone of the gasketbetween them.

,7: The combination with a tumbler or similar receptacle having a rounded rim,of a hermetic closure therefor consisting of a gaskethaving approximately cylindrical inner the saidinner and outer faces respectively, a

seat approximately conforming to the outer face and upper inclinededge of said gasket, the cylindrical portion being substantially lar er in diameter than the receptacle-rim, an extendin a substantial distance above the level of t at rim in all positions of the closure. y I

8. The combination with a tumbler or and outer faces and having inclined upper and lower edges forming acute angleswith '75 cap provided wth a flexible flange forming a similar receptacle having a rounded rim, of a 8'5 hermetic closure therefor consisting of a gasket having approximately cylindrical inner and outer faces, and having inclined upper and lower edges forming acute angles with. the respective faces, a cap' provided'withaflexible flange forming a'seat approximately conforming to the outer face and [11' per inclined -edge of said gasket, the -cy indrical portion of 'theseat being substantially larger in diameter than the receptacle ri m', and exten portions of the flange being turned inwardly eneath the gasket tocent'er the closure with the receptacle.

9. The combination witha turnbler or I similarreceptacle having a rounded'rim, of a hermetic closure therefor consisting of a gasket. having approximately cylindricalfinne and outer faces and having up er and lower a substantial distance; above] the level 0 thatrim in allp'ositio'n's'of the closure,

edges forming-acute angles wit the respec-' 4 tive ,faces, azcap provided with a flexible flange" forming a seat approximately conforming to the outer face and upper inclined edge of said gasket, the cylindrical portion of the flange being substantially larger in diameter than the receptacle-rim, and extending a 7 substantial distance above the level of that rim-in all positions of the closure,,portions of the flange being turned inwanily beneath the gasket to center the receptacle withthe 'closure, and a portion of the top of the cap being depressed to form an; annularshoulder coacti n -with the interior portion of the rounds of the receptacleto engage an innerzene of the gasket betweenthem,

10. The/combination witha tumbler or diameter substantially greater than that of the turnbler-rim, and a cap having a flexible similarreceptacle, ofahermetic closure there- I for; consisting of a gasket'having an'outer flange provided with a portion engaging the receptacle below the rim tocentra ize the closure therewith, and having a larger cylindrical portion extending above the level of said rim merging'into an inwardly-inclined conical portion and'thence merging into a downwardly-projecting portion providing a, corner located above and coacting with the.

rounded rim to engage an inner zone of the gasket between them- 11. The comb' atron with a tumbler or similar receptacle having a rounded rim,v of a I hermetic closure therefor, comprising. a cap} 10 having a flexible flange forming a cylindrical gasket-seat of a diametersubstantially larger thanthat of the. receptacle-rim, merging into a conical portion, inclined inwardly overthe receptacle-rim and thence downwardly to form an annular shoulder situated above the said rim, and a gasket substantially fitting the cylindrical gasket-seat, the thickness of the gasket being substantially reater than the width of'the annular space etween the 2o,1im and the cap-flange, whereby the gasket is compressed against different zones of the tumbler-rim by the cylindrical portion, .theconical portion and'the corner portion of the I Z. A hermetic closure for receptacles, comprisingl a cap having an annular gasketseat, and

into circular contour-below the shoul er.

13. A hermetic closure for receptacles, comprisin a cap provided with an annular seat, and iaving portions "of its rim turned inwardly at intervals below the gasket-seat I 3 5 to support the gasket, the turned-1n portions mergmg again into coincidence with the OthGI' PQI'tIOHS ofthe rim to forma circulare ed rim.

14. hermetic closure for receptacles, o comprisingla cap-having an annular gaske-tl seat, and portions ofits rim turned jcornprisingla cap having arr-annular gasketaving portions of its rim turned =1nWardly at intervals to form a supporting shoulder'beneath the gasket, mergrn j again 'saaeso inwardly at intervals below the gasket-seat to'iorm supporting-shoulders for't'he gasket,

the portions of the'rim below the said shoul f ders merging into a circular contour of a diameter smaller than that of the, annulargasket-seat.

15.- .A hermetic iclosure receptacles,-

seat,v and. aving'portionsof its rim turned, 56

inwardly at intervals beneath the gasket to form vertical flutes for supporting thegasket, the said fluted portions terminating-at their lower ends in a circular contour coincident with the intervening portions of the 5g 16. A hermetic closure for-receptacles,

comprising a ca provided with an annlilar gasket-seat, an having portions of its rim turned inwardly at intervals beneath the 6. gasket-seat to form vertical flutes for supporting the: gasket, the said flutes terminating at their lower portions'in a circular contour coincident with the intervening or. tions of the cap-rim, and of'a diameter ess than that of the annular gasket-seat.

- 17. A hermetic closure for receptacles, comprising a ca provided, with an annular gasket-seat, an having portionsof its rim turned inwardly below the gasket-seat t0 form vertical flutes for supporting the gas-' 'ket', the lower portions of the cap-rim inter- 

